Stacey April Fix and cast take a bow PRST STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID NEWBURYPORT, MA PERMIT NO. 51 ____________ The The Town Common Region's Largest Weekly Distribution LARGEST DISTRIBUTION ACROSS THE NORTH SHORE OF MA & COASTAL NH www.thetowncommon.com September 5 - 11, 2018 Vol. 14, No. 45 FREE Theater Workshop Turns 20 Waterfront West Public Hearing Thursday By Stewart Lytle, Reporter By Stewart Lytle, Reporter ––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––– REGIONAL – The first show Theater Workshop produced was Charles Schultz’s classic, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Twelve students participated in that first production. That was 20 years ago. Theater Workshop shows, written and directed by Stacey April Fix, now attract as many as 90 students for performances in the auditorium at Newbury Elementary School. On Sept. 10, Fix will begin rehearsals again for Theater Workshop’s Holiday show in December. “I feel we are serving a determined purpose,” she said in an interview. “I am not willing to stop.” Her students, who come from schools throughout the North Shore, have gone on to colleges and careers, including some who have found a place in the world of theater. One student from the first production, whom Fix has stayed in touch with, was John Kessler, who played Linus before going on to become an astronaut. Please enjoy... Photo provided by Workshop Arts, Inc. The Theater Workshop and Enrichment Program was created when the school was enlarged to house additional spaces, including an auditorium, complete with a stage and sound booth. Fix, who had left Off Broadway productions to direct children’s theater, asked what the school’s plans were for the auditorium. The school agreed to allow her to offer theater as one of several enrichment programs. In coming years, while other programs shrunk in numbers of students, “We grew,” she said. One reason the theater program thrived was its parental involvement. Some parents come back year after year, long after their children were no longer involved. “I’m grateful to everyone who has helped me. Theater is not something you do alone,” Fix said. “They make me want to do my best.” Theater Workshop produces two shows a year. For each show Fix draws on her Continued on page 3 N E W B U RY P O RT – Should five-story buildings be allowed on the waterfront? That was the question city officials debated last week in the on-going approval process for the plans by New England Development (NED) to build Waterfront West, a mixed-use project between Michael’s Harborside and the old Black Cow restaurants. The public can join the The site of the proposed Waterfront West project from the Rte. 1 bridge debate about the Waterfront West project this week. A public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m., Sept. 6th in the City Hall auditorium. Members of the city’s planning board and the City Council’s Planning and Development Committee met informally last week to review NED’s most recent plans for the project. In general, the group scored the project high on issues like design of public spaces, pedestrian access to the river, the placement of retail and commercial stores and the project’s impact on the boating community. Their concerns focused primarily on the proposed height and density of the residential buildings, which would house up to 230 apartments. “The buildings are just too dense,” said Planning Board vice chair Leah McGavern. “There must be a compelling reason” for five-story buildings. The key consideration, she said, was that each building must have “architectural and massing variety.” Planning Board member Anne Gardner, who voiced the strongest objection to the proposed taller buildings, said, “The bulk of all these units is in the five-story buildings.” City Council member Jared Eigerman said he was not opposed to allowing five-story buildings, if they are designed with interesting roof lines. He said it looks like the buildings’ roofs will just be long horizontal lines, which would be detrimental to the city’s skyline. “Are these buildings going to block the views of the (church) steeples?” Eigerman asked. McGavern said the five story buildings could be 55 to 60 feet tall The Town Common Courtesy Photo You'll "flip" over the digital edition at T heTownCommon.com Anna Jaques Hospital proudly welcomes Peter Sebeny, MD, Coastal Infectious Disease POSTAL CUSTOMER Photo by Stewart Lytle Continued on page 3 Herbal Gifts from Your Garden Have your herbs gone wild this summer? Rita Wollmering, founder and manager of The HERB FARMacy, will demonstrate how to make hand-crafted herbal products, such as herbal vinegars, herbal salts, sachets, herbal oil, and herbal Continued on page 3 Board-certified specialist, Dr. Peter Sebeny treats patients with infection-related medical conditions in the hospital and at his new office. 21 Highland Avenue, Suite 5, Newburyport, MA 978-255-4886 • www.ajh.org